Typically, you vomit when stomach contents are forced and involuntarily expelled and usually after feeling nauseous. The causes can be many, such as illness, pregnancy, motion sickness, food poisoning, gastroenteritis (intestinal "flu"), alcohol consumption and even migraines. There may also be medications that cause nausea and vomiting. Many times it can be treated at home, but you should see a doctor if you don't get better after a while or if you notice some warning signs.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Take Care of Yourself
Step 1. Support your head
He may move violently when vomiting. Try to support her in the best possible way.
If you have long hair, you should pull it back to prevent it falling out in front of your face during a bout of vomiting
Step 2. Sit or assume a semi-sitting position
You can use cushions to put on the sofa to support yourself when you want to stretch out a bit. If you keep moving or lie on your back you may feel worse.
- If you're bedridden, you should lie on your side so you don't choke on your own vomit.
- If you are on your back, there is a greater risk of choking due to vomiting.
- However, avoid going to bed after eating, as this can make you feel nauseous even more.
Step 3. Drink some fluids
Vomiting can cause rapid dehydration. However, if you drink too much and too fast, you could trigger another attack; you have to drink slowly and in small sips. You should aim to drink about 30ml or ½ glass of liquid every 20 minutes or so.
- You can also suck on ice cubes or popsicles to prevent dehydration. Since these dissolve very slowly, they can also help you avoid feeling nauseous.
- Try drinking lemonade, ginger tea, or peppermint tea.
- Clear fluids, such as broth, apple juice, and sports drinks, are generally perfectly suited for your purpose.
- If you've been vomiting a lot, you may be suffering from electrolyte imbalance, so drinking an oral rehydrating solution or sports drink specifically formulated with electrolytes should be a good choice.
- Avoid milk, alcohol, caffeinated drinks, sodas, and most fruit juices. Milk and fizzy drinks can increase the feeling of nausea, while alcohol and caffeine dehydrate even more. Fruit juices (such as grapefruit or orange juices) are too acidic and can cause further bouts of vomiting.
- Eat foods with a high water content, such as watermelon. They help you stay hydrated.
Step 4. Eat small meals
If you put too much food in your stomach, you can trigger more nausea and vomiting. You should try to eat small portions throughout the day rather than larger meals.
- Eat light foods, such as crackers, toast, potatoes, and rice. Bananas and apples are also good. These foods shouldn't put too much pressure or create stomach problems. Baked fish or chicken are great sources of protein - but don't season them.
- Avoid fatty and spicy foods, such as sausage, fast food dishes, and French fries. Fried foods and foods that are too sweet are also not a good idea.
- Don't even eat dairy products. Vomiting can make your body temporarily lactose intolerant, although it usually doesn't cause you any problems.
- Eat slowly. Don't force yourself to overeat at one time. If you dilate your stomach too much, you make the feeling of nausea worse by making it easier to vomit.
Step 5. Avoid items that can trigger or induce vomiting
There may be some elements that induce it and facilitate its attacks, especially in people who are very sensitive to perfumes.
- For example, the smell of fatty foods can trigger nausea.
- If the smell of food makes you nauseous, you should ask someone else to cook. This is a very common feature in early pregnancy.
- Strong smells, such as cigarette smoke and perfumes, can trigger nausea and vomiting in some people.
Step 6. Get some fresh air
Medical treatment for vomiting often includes oxygen therapy as well. However, this type of treatment is not always readily available at home; you can get around by getting a breath of fresh air by simply sitting by a window or taking a short walk outdoors - both solutions can help you manage nausea and vomiting.
Step 7. Know when to see a doctor
The factors responsible for nausea and vomiting can be many, and in most cases they can be treated and managed at home. However, if you can't eat or drink anything for 12 hours or more, or have had frequent bouts of nausea and vomiting for more than 48 hours, you should see a doctor. If you have any of the following symptoms in addition to nausea and vomiting, call an ambulance:
- Severe abdominal pain or cramps or severe chest pain.
- Blurred or double vision.
- Fainting episodes before or after bouts of vomiting.
- Confusional state.
- Cold, clammy or pale skin.
- High fever.
- Nuchal stiffness.
- Severe headache or migraine.
- Signs of dehydration (excessive thirst, lethargy, dry mouth).
- Vomit with a green appearance, resembling coffee grounds or with traces of blood.
- Fecal material in the vomit.
- Episodes of vomiting after a head injury.
Method 2 of 3: Manage Nausea and Vomiting with Other Techniques
Step 1. Try deep breathing
Deep breathing can give the body the oxygen it needs so much. In addition to breathing fresh air, this practice is recommended by doctors to help manage nausea.
- Place one hand in the center of your abdomen and rest the other on your chest.
- Breathe in through your nose at a normal pace. You must feel that the hand resting on the abdomen moves outwards more than the one on the chest. The lower chest and belly need to inflate with air.
- Slowly exhale through your mouth.
- Take a slow, deep inhalation through your nose. Try to prolong it as much as possible.
- Slowly exhale through your mouth again.
- Repeat this cycle at least four more times.
Step 2. Consider aromatherapy
This technique involves inhaling the scents of plant extracts and other chemicals. Apply 1-2 drops of these extracts to a clean cloth and smell it. Scientific research has found that the following essential oils and chemicals can help relieve nausea and vomiting:
- Mint oil. Helps reduce the feeling of nausea.
- Ginger extract. The scent of ginger can aid digestion, relieving the stomach and consequently preventing vomiting.
- Isopropyl alcohol. This alcohol, like denatured alcohol, can help reduce retching if inhaled a little, as long as in very limited quantities.
- Do not use more than 1-2 drops! A larger dose or inhaling too intensely can cause nasal irritation.
Step 3. Eat the ginger
Ginger is great for reducing the feeling of nausea and vomiting by both inhalation and ingestion. You can easily find it as a fresh root or even in powder, tablet or tea form.
- Drinking ginger ale might make you feel better, but ginger supplements or fresh ginger are more effective than this soda. Most commercial ginger drinks do not contain significant amounts of this natural root. Furthermore, the carbonation of ginger ale can also make nausea worse.
- Make yourself a ginger tea or herbal tea. There are various recipes, but a very simple one consists of grating a few grams of fresh ginger root (the recommended amount is equivalent to a "knuckle" of the hand). Then mix ½ teaspoon of grated ginger root in 240 ml of hot water and leave it to infuse for 5-10 minutes; if you wish you can add a little honey. Slightly sweet drinks can help relieve stomach pain.
- If you opt for the supplement, the maximum recommended dose is 4 grams (about ¾ of a teaspoon).
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women can drink ginger tea safely. However, they shouldn't have more than 1 gram of ginger per day.
- Ginger can interfere with some prescription blood thinning medications. If you are taking them, consult your doctor before taking ginger.
Step 4. Try other herbal remedies
Among the best known and most popular for treating this type of malaise are cloves, cardamom extract, cumin seeds and Baikal root extract. However, no in-depth studies have been done on the effectiveness of these products. You can give it a try, to see if they make you feel better, but they may not give the desired results.
Step 5. Try acupressure
Unlike the puncture needle, which involves the use of needles and for which professional training is required, a light pressure needle can also be performed at home. The P6 acupuncture point, located on the inner forearm, can prevent nausea and vomiting when stimulated. This stimulation sends signals to the spinal cord and brain, which release specific chemicals into the bloodstream to help fight the malaise.
- Locate the pressure point P6, also called "Neiguan". Position your hand so that the palm is facing you and the fingers are pointing up.
- Place 3 fingers of the opposite hand horizontally along the wrist. Use your thumb to feel the point that remains under the index finger. In this area there are two large tendons in the wrist.
- Press on this point for 2-3 minutes in a circular motion.
- Repeat the process on the other wrist.
- You can also use anti-nausea wrist bands, such as Sea-Band® or ReliefBand® (also available online).
Step 6. Take over-the-counter medications
Bismuth subsalicylate (such as Pepto-Bismol) is great for treating mild vomiting caused by food poisoning or binge eating.
- Sometimes it is possible to control nausea with antihistamines such as meclizine and dimenhydrinate (they are particularly useful for nausea caused by motion sickness). Be aware that they can cause drowsiness.
- Do not take more than the recommended dose.
Method 3 of 3: Treating Vomiting in Children
Step 1. Recognize "regurgitation"
Infant reflux is not the same as vomiting. Babies often tend to spit or regurgitate small amounts of milk or food. Small traces of drool or liquid material usually come out of the mouth immediately after eating, but they are never too consistent. This is completely normal behavior and is not a cause for concern.
Vomiting in children, on the other hand, can be a sign of serious health problems, such as an intestinal blockage. See your pediatrician or doctor right away if your baby vomits consistently or has multiple episodes of vomiting
Step 2. Keep your child hydrated
Dehydration is especially dangerous for children, as their body processes electrolytes faster than adults. Give him an oral rehydration solution to prevent your baby from losing too much fluid.
- Take a commercial moisturizer, such as Pedialyte. You can also make your own at home but, as it is very easy to go wrong with the doses of the different ingredients - pediatricians recommend buying the sachets that you can find at the pharmacy.
- Make your baby drink slowly. Give him 1-2 teaspoons (5-10 ml) of solution every 5-10 minutes.
- Don't let him drink fruit juices, sodas, and still water. None of these liquids are able to adequately hydrate and restore your child's electrolyte balance.
Step 3. Offer only small amounts of food
Do not give him solid food in the first 24 hours of vomiting. When the baby stops throwing up, you can start with light, soft foods like jellies, mashed potatoes, broth, rice and bananas. Don't force him to eat at all costs if he doesn't want to.
- Avoid foods high in fiber and high in sugar.
- If you can breastfeed, know that it is a great help to hydrate and at the same time ensure adequate nutrition.
Step 4. Put him on his side
Young children may inhale vomit and choke if they rest on their backs. So make sure he sleeps on his side.
If the baby is a little older, you can put pillows to support him a little
Step 5. Avoid drugs
Children should not take over-the-counter medicines, such as Pepto-Bismol or antihistamines, as they can cause serious illness if given in wrong doses.
Check with your pediatrician to determine if there are any safe medications you can give your baby
Step 6. Know when to take him to the pediatrician
If your baby can't hold back fluids or if you see symptoms worsen, you need to call your pediatrician. You should go to the emergency room if:
- There are traces of blood in the vomit.
- Vomit takes on a greenish or bright yellow appearance.
- The child is dehydrated.
- The baby's stool is black or tarry.
Advice
- Eat small meals throughout the day. Even simple snacks of crackers or toast can help relieve stomach discomfort.
- Don't drink large amounts of water if your stomach can't handle it. If you ingest too much fluids, your vomiting can get worse and your chances of suffering from severe dehydration increase. Take small sips and increase them every 20 minutes.
- Sucking on mints can also help with stomach problems.
- Avoid fatty, spicy, or greasy foods.
Warnings
- If you vomit for more than 12 hours, see a doctor or go to a hospital.
- If you experience any of the symptoms listed in the first method, go to the emergency room.
